Still No Jimmy Graham Franchise Tag Grievance: Saints Mailbag Answers

What are your thoughts on Toon, Is he done? - Russty Griswold

No, I don't think Nick Toon is done. I thought the coaching staff gave up on him a little too quickly last season, in fact. Toon looked like the better receiver (compared to Kenny Stills) coming out of training camp last year but a few dropped passes and we never really saw him again. I'm sure he will definitely be given a chance to compete this year. If he doesn't show anything this year, however, then I think he's done.

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Why didn't Graham fill his grievance yet? - Sylvain G.

I honestly don't know why Jimmy Graham hasn't filed a grievance for his franchise tag designation as tight end. The deadline for him to do so is April 22nd. We all expected him to immediately put up a fight and claim he was actually a wide receiver in 2013. My guess is that his agent knows a long-term deal between Jimmy and the Saints is in the works and will eventually be reached before a any ruling would ever be handed down, therefore making a grievance filing pointless.

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When do you predict the regular season will begin? And, alternately, when can we stop hearing all these BS preseason prognostications? - S. Sooner

My well-placed sources tell me the NFL regular season will start Thursday, September 4, 2014 for the NFL Kickoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and an opponent yet to be named. The Saints' regular season will likely start Sunday, September 7th. As for the "BS preseason prognostications" you seem to dislike, I think you're stuck with those until right up to the start of the regular season.

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At what point are you willing to admit that Sean Payton has committed to revising his offensive strategy to shift focus to a ball control (time of possession) attack featuring (not just including haphazardly and ineffectively) Khiry Robinson backed by Mark Ingram and supplemented with Pierre Thomas, with some original west coast offense style short passing out of the backfield to Ingram and Thomas thrown in to spice it up? - Stu J.

I'm gonna need a little time before I come around to that train of thought. I certainly agree that a shift in that direction is possible, and that the pieces of the puzzle seem to be in place. But as I've stated before, it's going to take a little more than just the trade of Darren Sproles, a couple of opinion articles, and/or the constant rantings of an unstable fan on some Saints blog to change my mind. More than likely it won't be until Week 3 or 4 of the 2014 regular season before I'm willing to admit anything.

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If DeSean Jackson get released like this report suggests do you think the Saints should make a hard run at him? - Framed A.

No. First and foremost, I'm pretty sure the Saints can't afford the salary DeSean Jackson is going to command. Second, I think the Saints will address their need at wide receiver with a top pick in the the NFL Draft this year, if at all.